Multiple chain ladder



March 6, 1945.

H. P. HoPP ETAL MULTIPLE CHAIN LADDER Filed Dec. 22, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. HAQOLO R Hopp 50W/4R0 /Q//VZEDWAM March 6, 1945. H. |=.v HoPP Erm.

MULTIPLE CHAIN LADDER Filed Dec. 22, 1942 2 sneetsfsheefz IFIIIIIIII-II M.. R M m I mwa mw 0 px m IIHIII H. mm W5 A Patented Mar. 6, 1945 MULTIPLE CHAIN LADDER Harold P. Hopp, Englewood, N. J., and Edward Kunzelman, Mount Vernon,

N. Y., assignors to H. K. Metal Craft Manufacturing Co., New

` York, N.- Y.

Application December 22,1942, Serial No. 469,792

1 Claim. (o1. 228-40) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in chain ladder constructions and more particularly it pertains to a construction embodying a plurality of chain ladders operatively connected together to form a net-like structure.

- While in the following specification, the structure herein disclosedwill be generally referred to as a multiple chain ladder, it is to be understood that the said structure also lends itself readily to use as a cargo net or sling.

It is one objectof the invention to provide a .novel construction of such a nature that the advantages and the facilities of several single chain ladders may be obtained in a single, unitary structure;

Such a device has advantages over single ladders, in that it makes for speed in ,the provision of preparations for abandoning ship and also permits of handling a greater number of persons under such conditions.

` It is another object of the invention to provide a novel structure which is also capable of use as a cargo net or sling employed in loading and unloading vessels.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel construction by means of which the assembly of the several parts may be 'accomplished with facility.

Still a further object of the invention resides in a novel construction which provides sufficient exibility to permit of ready rolling the structure upon itself for storage when not in use and a free and ready unrolling thereof, without fouling, when desired for use.

Arstill further object of the invention resides in a novel construction in which there is an appreciative saving of materials over that required in the manufacture of single or separate ladders.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood for which purpose reference will now be had to the accompanying drawings and the following specification and claim.

In the drawings, A

Figure 1 is a view in elevation partly broken away illustrating a construction which presents the equivalent of ve single chain ladders,

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation ypartly broken away and partly in section illustrating a structure constructed in accordance with the present invention in operative position suspended along the side of a ship, wall or the like,

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantially on the line 3--3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 4, and;

Figure 6 is a view in elevation illustrating a slightly modied form of the invention.

Referring specically to the drawings by reference character, a plurality of chains arranged in spaced parallel relation provide the side chains or stiles I0 of a plurality of ladders. The several stiles IIJ are maintainedin their spaced relation by means of steps or rungs I I which are disposed between adjacent Stiles and which. are connected at their ends tothe Stiles I0.

The links of the chains which form the stiles I0 are of a type which present two spaced legs I2 of which the well known lock link chain is one good example.

As illustrated in the drawings, the rungs are attached to the links and the structure by which this is accomplished will now be described.

, In the illustrated embodiment of the invention,

eter of the stock from which thestile links are formed.

This depressed channel I5 receives one of the legs I2 of one of the links as best illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings.

The cap I4 is securedto the link of the stile by a clamping strap or the like I6 which has a main body portion I1 and ends I8 which are slightly reduced in width as illustrated inFigure 4.

Formed in the main body portion I 'I of the clamping strap there is a channel I9 which, when the cap I4 is attached to the link of the stile, receives the leg I2 of the link and together with the channel I5 in the end wall of the cap I4 forms means for partially embracing or enclosing the leg I 2 of the link.

The clamping strap I6 is secured in link holding position relative to the link preferably by two rivets 2B which, as illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings, are disposed one upon each side of the leg I2 of the link. Y

While the member I6 has been referred to as a clamping strap, it is to be understood that the 2 proportions of the depressed channels l5 and I9 are such, that when the cap I4 4and the clamping strap IB are secured to the link, the cap I4 will have free pivotal movement upon the leg l2 of the link to which it is secured.

The cap I4 is provided in its side walls with two diametrically opposed openings 22 and each of the reduced ends I8 of the clamping strap IB is provided with an opening 23 which, when the clamping strap is shaped to conform to the outer contour of the cap, registers with its respective opening 22 in the side wall of the cap I4.

The rung is provided at each end with an opening or passage 24 so positioned with respect y to the end thereof that it maybe brought into registration with the openings 22 and 23 of the cap and clamping plate respectively, to receive a The rivet 25 is of suiicient length to ex.

tend slightly beyond the clamping plate IB 'to pro` vide material to upset in the form of heads .In assembling the structure, the lengths of chain which form the side stiles I!) of the sev- -eral ladders are iirst provided` at spaced intervals with the caps which are attached to the links oi the stiles in the manner heretofore described prior to the insertion of the ends of the rungs.

After a suiilcient number of lengths oi stiles le to form the completed structure are provided with the proper number of caps, they are secured together by securing the ends of the rungs within the'caps by the rivets 25 and thus the rungs serve to maintain the stiles in proper spaced rewill be noted that in cases where the rungs are formed from wood, the ends of the rungs are turned down to a size where they fit snugly within the caps at four points designated A in said figure.

By this construction all load or strain is carried by the caps It and the rivets 25 are -relieved from strain thereby eliminating all tendencies of the rivets 25 to split the rungs.

The caps i4 also, by reason of their enclosing the ends of the rungs, prevent Contact of the end grain with hard objects which might result in a splitting of the rungs.

Inv Figure 6 of the drawings, there is illustrated a modied form of the invention, in which the rungs ii, although they are secured to the stiles in the same manner as in the heretofore described form of the invention, are disposed in vand through the eye of an eye bolt 3| carried staggered relation to one another between the stiles. Obviously, in this form of the invention, but a single cap I4 is secured to each of the links of the stiles to which the rungs are attached.

Means may be provided to maintain the structure spaced with respect to the side of a ship, a wall, or the lik'e, when it is employed as a ladder.

In Figure 2 of the drawings, there is illustrated such a spacing means which comprises wooden beams which are preferably formed of wood of square `cross-sectional form.

These spacing elements, when provided, extend transversely ofthe structure and may be secured thereto at two or more points by S-links l32, which pass through one of the links of the stiles by the beam.

Such spacing means may be so positioned with respect to the length of the stiles as to fall either directly behind the rungs or the rear of the spaces between the rungs, as desired.

While in the foregoing speciiication, the rungs have been described as being formed of wood and as rectangular cross-sectional shape, the invention is not to be limited to such since rungs of other materials and of other cross-sectional shapes obviously could be employed.

" The flexible nature of the stiles I8 together with the free pivotal movement afforded by the oonnectionsoi the rungs withA the stiles, provides suiiicient flexibility of the entire structure to permit of its use as a cargo net or sling, it being understood, of course, that when put to such use, the spacing members 30 would not be em'- bodied in the structure.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the present invention provides a structure in which the objects and advantages recited, have been accomplished. v

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed asA new is:

A ladder of the type described comprising in combination, a plurality of parallel spaced chains, ladder rungs disposed in spaced relation to one another between said chains to maintain them in said spaced relation, and means for securing the ends of the ladder rungs to their respective chains, said means comprising a cup-shaped member for receiving the end of a rung, a channel in the outer face of the closed end of the cup-shaped member, a clamping member embracing said cup-shaped member, said-clamping member also having a channel which together with the aforementioned channel of the cupshaped member embraces one side of one of the links of one of said chains, means forsecuring the `clamping member to the` cup-shaped member and separate means for securing both the cupshaped member and the clamping member to the end of the rung.

HAROLD P. HOPP. EDWARD KUNZELMAN. 

